Improved wagon-jack



I @uitrit tetrs @strut @ffice WILLI-AM CLIFFORD, OF MINA, ASSIGNOR TO A.. F. JENINGS, t OO.,l Oli DUNKIRK, AND THOMAS R. COVENEY', OF MINA, NEW YORK. i

Letters Patent No. 82,384, dated September 22, 1868.'

IMPROVED WAGONfJAGK.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CLIFFORD, of,Mina, -in the 'cou'nty offGhautauqum and State of New York, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in WagonJacks and I do hereby declare that the followingis a. full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specication.

The figure represents a perspective view of my improved jack. I

My improvement belongs to that class where a pivoted bar, acted upon by a lever, elevates the axle. My invention consists essentially in combining the lever-with the bar loosely, through the medium of projectingstraps, so that a free range of motion is produced, and the power applied is uniform through the Whole range.

In the drawings, A indicates the bed or base-plate, in which is mortised an inclined'standard, B, made ofY two sirle-piecesa a, stayed by rear brace C. I l

To the upper end of the standard is pivotedv a swing-bar, D, having a series of corrugations or ratches b-, to receive the axle of the carriage. Beneath this is pivoted the curved lever or handle E, whose short arm c rests directly under the bar D. The arm e has two iron straps d d, projecting-up from the opposite sides, and loosely embracing the sides of the barthe object being, simply, to retain the parts in place as the 'lever traverses the bar. Y l

This loose construction of the end of the lever with the bar presents some special features ofb advantage:

First, the power applied to the long end of the lever, andthe upward consequent'motion of the ratchet-bar, are uniform at all portions of the stroke; hence there is no unusual 'strain upon any ofthe parts.

Second, there is no limit fixed to the action of therlever in raising the axle; hence its-range of motion in elevating the axle is of the maximum degree.

" Third, the connection of the lever and bar is always retained witho'ut fastening.

Fourth, the swing-bar is always at liberty to be turned over, which is desirable in transportation and storage.

I am aware cfa patent. issued to C. H. Paine, September 30, 1862, No. 36,587, in' which a swing-bar is raised by a pivoted lever; but in that case, the said parts'are connected fast together by a link which forms a toggle and hence the same effect is not lproduced as in my device. In 'that case, the'greate'st power is necessary at the commencement of the'movement, and the motion is more rapid at that time,aud the power and motion both decrease as the toggle is straightened. @The result is a sudden jerk in applying the power, which is liable to displace the axle or injureA the parts. Furthermore, the range of motion is :very limited. In my device, the power applied and the motion produced are the same at the commencement as at the -close of the movement, and the action is thus uniform. Also, the range is limited only by thieleng'th of the swing-bar. In

.Paines.case, also, the towrlc prevents the swing-bar from turning over, and therefore the device isin an inconvenient form for transportation and storage.

The construction of my device is ofthe simplest and cheapest character, and, aside -frm the special advan- A tages of the loose connection of the lever and bar,'as above set forth, presents features not shown in other arrangements, so far as I am aware. i

This arrangement also allows th-e axle to be raised at any time, above the capacity of the jack, by simply applying the hand at the loose end of swing-bar D, whicli could not be, were there a fast connection.

I disclaim the use of a swing-bar and pivotcd lever Vwhen connected fast together, as in the aforesaid patent. Such'is'not the equivalent of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The swinging bar D, pivoted to standard, B, with its `free end resting on the disconnected lever E, and guided by the straps d, rigidly secured to the lever, so as to operate in the manner-and for the purpose as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. CLIFFORD.

Witnesses:

THcs. R. OovENEv, MARION BURT. 

